This week I’m joined by Joanna Bahash, owner of Mumzees, who is on a mission to support breastfeeding moms during their journey. Joanna shares that Mumzees is a brand for breastfeeding mamas of all different backgrounds and walks of life. Her mission is to make beautiful, high quality breastfeeding gifts to uplift and support breastfeeding mamas. I’m grateful for the conversation we were able to have in celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, highlighting the importance of offering real, tangible support to newly postpartum women and nurturing them through their breastfeeding experience. We also talk about extending grace and offering non-judgmental support when moms decide to make different feeding choices for themselves and their families. Our hope is that there will be more education and collaboration from pediatricians to support women that want to exclusively breastfeed and that we will see advances towards more provisions for paid maternity leave. We hope anyone listening will search within themselves and grow their capacity to offer love and support to the young families in their lives. Joanna can be found on instagram @mumzeesbox and you can shop her lovely curated care packages and lactation cookies at www.mumzees.com

Tune into this week’s episode with Lauren Reza, an RN who stepped away from working in hospitals and started her own practice supporting expecting mothers, infants and young children and newly postpartum women. We share a conversation about what motivated Lauren to move away from working in hospitals, some key observations Lauren’s had about the breastfeeding experience, what aspects of her wellness and homeschooling journey look like, and her work with Soul 2 Soil - an immersive education program in South Florida. Lauren’s bio: I am a nurse by trade but after over a decade in hospitals, I stepped away from the bedside to listen to my true calling. Armed with certifications in all the areas my passion leads combined with my knowledge from working inpatient, I will guide you so you can be prepared for whatever comes your family’s way.

My many struggles at the beginning of my parenting journey propelled me into learning and supporting mothers on this isolating postpartum journey. I wanted to help other mamas achieve their breastfeeding goals and be a source of support and solidarity when they felt alone in their struggles.I love sharing what I learned along my journey and I feel called to support others on theirs.

It takes a village, let me be a part of yours and mother you through motherhood. I will walk you through this with holistic baby led support for pregnancy and beyond. You are not alone and I am here to support you. We’re in this together! Lauren can be found on instagram @lactationandlullabiesfl and her website www.lactationandlullabies.com

This week I’m joined by a new friend of the show, Maele Hargett. Maele and I share an amazing conversation about single mom life, finding ways to navigate transition with grace and being kind to yourself. Maele is a native Floridian and self proclaimed “hot mess mom” who generously shares an honest look at her life while raising her amazing daughter. Recently laid off from a long term career in executive recruitment for nonprofits, she has found a renewed passion for discovering who she is and where her passions truly lie.

A strong proponent of making time for yourself without the mom guilt, she strives to share the journey she is on through her Instagram posts which are both humorous and at times really raw. She is also venturing into the podcast realm where she will be sharing her newest adventure of living with her co-parent and navigating what can be some tricky waters.

Both her Instagram and podcast can be found under the name PalmBeachMommyMisfit.

This week I am joined by Liz Swenson, a phenomenal teacher, mother, artist and author/illustrator of You Got This Mama! From Boobs to Blowouts, a Survival Guide for New Moms. Her new book, Raising Tiny Humans: From Potty Training to Prejudice comes out this spring! We share a lovely conversation about what inspired Liz to create these books. Her desire to share her love and to support new moms is infectious and so needed. Liz is a beautiful, bright, warm soul and her books are sure to illuminate your life on a day where you just need to hear - you’re doing ok and that you can do hard things. You Got This Mama! holds a special place in my heart and I can’t wait to bring home a copy of Raising Tiny Humans! It’s important to remember we’re all in this together and that the children we raise are truly our future. I thank Liz for contributing her skills and her artistry and for sharing valuable resources with parents who need a little guidance. Whether you’re a first time parent or you’re a veteran, each child presents something different that you may not have encountered before. These books are a welcome addition to any home library and can see you through some tough days with a little humor. You can find them available for purchase at Target, Amazon, Thrift Books and www.familius.com. About Liz Swenson: She is a mom to three small children and is inspired by making the world more loving, beautiful, and inclusive. Her books are helpful, humorous, and endlessly supportive. She hosted the podcast Surviving Baby with @ShawnatheMom , another helpful endeavor for mothers. Liz is passionate about helping parents achieve self-love, self-care, and empowerment. She is constantly pursuing new opportunities and projects that further that objective. You can follow her along this ever-unfolding journey @LizSwensonBFF on IG and TikTok or LizSwenson.org.

This week I’m joined by Erika Simon-Augustyn who helps parents create healthy boundaries and limits around screen time with their children focusing on the "power of play" that children need the most in their early childhood. Erika has a background in early childhood education and she shares her love of the Waldorf approach, encouraging children to develop their natural curiosity, talents and ability. We discuss providing children opportunities for free play and creating genuine connection with our families to replace the growing dependence on technology. Many are overwhelmed and feel that they don’t have the time it takes to establish real connection but we know that in the end, we will experience a feeling of such loss if we don’t witness our children having an immersive childhood. It is our job to prepare our children for the world and to help them be engaging humans who are able to find innovative solutions. Erika is a wonderful educator and has created a play kit subscription box, Artful Adventures, Crafts for Little Hands (available in the UK). She also has resources available online and offers one-on-one support for families. You can find her on instagram @simonaugustyn or her Facebook group: Parenting With Presence

This week I’m joined by Lindsay Askins, a phenomenal doula and birth photographer, who shares about how her background in mammalian biology informs her belief that women should experience birth, undisturbed. Lindsay also discusses her work in creating the project “Exposing the Silence” of birth trauma from obstetric violence. We talk about her work supporting dads, educating them to be able to confidently support their partners and our mission to provide men safe spaces to share about birth trauma. Lindsay is a professional photographer, home birth and postpartum doula. Educated in Animal Science with a degree from Texas A&M University, she worked as a veterinary technician for a decade, spent many years assisting with equine breeding programs, and later taught high school science. As a Mother, doula, and birth photographer, Lindsay believes the majority of perinatal mood disorders and other symptoms of birth trauma can be prevented by educating families on the pitfalls of obstetrics and modern birth. When Lindsay is not photographing or supporting Mothers, she can be found riding her horse, heading out on an adventure with her daughters, drinking coffee, reading a book, or planning her next trip! She can be found at www.spotofserendipity.com. You can also find Lindsay on instagram @spotofserendipity and her project page @exposingthesilence.

This week’s episode is joined by Abigail Caddy, an Award winning yacht chef, entrepreneur, Food Network Chopped champion, philanthropist, mother and wife. Abigail is the chef and owner of Curated Caddy, a high end catering company that provides land & sea service. Abby and I talk about how she balances a career that requires heavy travel and a young family. She shares some of the behind scenes chaos and fun while also sharing her uncompromising approach to putting her family first. Abby is a powerhouse who somehow manages to provide the best for her clients and to be present for her beautiful family. As she puts it, “they are writing their own rules” and living this life on their terms and having a lot of fun along the way. Abigail can be found on instagram @curatedcaddy

This week we’re joined by Shamir Cohen, owner of Pure Peaceful, a non-toxic home care line founded in Sag Harbor, NY. Shamir brings her holistic wisdom to the table sharing manageable ways to switch to a non-toxic life on any budget. We also talk about the importance of embracing a personal wellness journey and how clean living can impact other areas of your life. Shamir also shares powerful business advice for anyone starting a path into entrepreneurship. You can reach out to Shamir on instagram @pureandpeaceful. You can also shop her home care line at www.pureandpeaceful.com You’re also always welcome to reach out by emailing [email protected] if you’d like to be a guest or to share a topic you’d like covered on the show.

Tara Gosselink, health & fitness coach and owner of Fit Mum Method joined in this week speaking about her realistic approach to fitness, nutrition and some organizational tips for managing life with kids. Tara is a relatable mom who supports women to show up for themselves. Her tone is encouraging and she comes from a place of truly knowing what works and what doesn’t. She can be found on instagram @fitmummethod. She runs 8 week training programs (occur every 8 weeks) and the next one begins on August 14th!

This week’s episode highlights the need for surrounding yourself with people who have the capacity to show up for you. I talk about the importance of being kind to yourself and trying to identify what is a big deal and what isn’t, not overreacting or allowing everything to overwhelm you. Find healthy ways to take back control in the moment and to ground yourself. In the long run, having people show up for you and being able to show up for yourself will encourage to live a balanced life where you don’t feel run down. Wishing you all a wonderful week! You’re always welcome to contact me directly by emailing [email protected] or follow my show page on instagram @wingingitwithket.podcast